Breaking Barriers: Diversity in Private Equity & Venture Capital

Overview

Building on the success of previous events for women, LGBT and minorities, our Breaking Barriers forum now takes a wider look at diversity and inclusion within our industry.

This is an area the entire community needs to address, so join over 200 people for a day of networking and candid discussion to inspire and ignite change.

We are pleased that Level 20 and Diversity VC will be collaborating with us on the day, which combines expert speakers with premium networking opportunities.

Agenda

08:15
Three sponsored breakfasts under Chatham House rule

Please note, these breakfast roundtable sessions are by invitation only.

Women in PE - progression into senior positions in the industry
Sponsored by Debevoise & Plimpton. Chair Malin HolmbergMost industries now have a myriad of initiatives to support women into senior positions, and private equity is no different. But are they having any impact? What types of support are most effective? What else could be done? Join us for a discussion on current efforts to support women into senior positions within private equity and its associated sectors, using practical experiences to highlight what is working, and what is not.

Talking safely and effectively about diversity in the workplace
Sponsored by Private Equity Recruitment. Chair Gail McManusImproving diversity and inclusion is front of mind for many organisations. However, a fear exists around how to speak about the issues without causing offence or unleashing defensive behaviours.
In this meeting, PER will moderate a workshop around language and behaviour to help organisations have constructive discussions with their teams around the topic.

Building a robust employee engagement and retention plan
Sponsored by Willis Towers Watson. Chair Tamsin SridharaThe disclosures on gender pay have found our reward, talent and engagement approaches wanting. At the same employee expectations on fair treatment and transparency are increasing. In this session we will explore what leading companies, outside private equity, are doing to understand what is not working and what to do about it – from both a business and an employee perspective. What can you then adapt for your firm?

09:30 Welcome AddressHelen Steers, Partner, Pantheon Ventures, BVCA Chair 2017/18, Level 20 Co-Founder
Helen will set out why the forum now covers all aspects of diversity and inclusion in the industry, and why this is a strategic area for the BVCA Council

09:35 Introduction to the day and the BVCA activitiesGurpreet Manku, Deputy Director General and Director of Policy, BVCA
Gurpreet will provide an update on how the BVCA is looking at diversity within its own activities including events, research, outreach and the organisation’s governance

11:30 Workshop: Diversity & inclusionHanna McCloskey, Founder & CEO, Fearless FuturesHanna will address the following points in her session:– the concept of privilege: what it means and how it plays out in our lives– visualising the micro everyday instances of inequality in our working lives – how privilege can innovate our D&I thinking

12:00 Presentation: BVCA and Level 20 research on women in LPs Noelle Buckley, Research Director, BVCA

Privacy Information

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